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Structural Assessment
Structural assessments are performed to ensure structures meet all applicable building codes related to structural integrity. Conditions assessments look for signs of potential structural issues or problems with building maintenance that could lead to failures. Methods for condition assessment of existing buildings include:
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) – Guideline for Structural Condition Assessment of Existing Buildings
- ISO 13822 – Bases for design of structures — Assessment of existing structures
- ASTM E2018-08 Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments: Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process
- Groups such as the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh (Accord) and the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (Alliance) have developed standards for their members that are used as a basis for assessment.
Sumerra’s safety experts regularly assist clients with structural condition assessments around the World. Sumerra has conducted assessment using many of the methods listed above. Additionally, Sumerra assists in development of inspection and maintenance plans for building structures. Prompt and proactive management of buildings is essential to the continued useful life and safety of buildings.
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SaFE Assessment
Focus has turned a spotlight on Bangladesh due to the recent tragedies. Sumerra understands that manufacturing brands want to ensure that the suppliers working within their supply chains provide a safe workplace for their employees. Sumerra’s team of Compliance Professionals are ready to help your team improve the working conditions at your Suppliers in Bangladesh and other countries. To assist Buyers, Sumerra has created a 3-part, Supplier assessment called SaFE.
This 1-day review provides Buyers with the required information needed to make effective and informed decisions. Conducted by a team of safety professionals and structural & electrical engineers, this review is meant to provide an overall look at building risk to determine the need for further measures such as education and training, or more in-depth assessments/investigations (e.g. structural load calculations, soil testing, thermography, etc).
SHARING AUDIT COSTS AND RESULTS
As these issues effect many similar contract manufacturers, Sumerra encourages collaboration with these assessments, sharing both the responsibility and the cost. Sumerra can conduct a single assessment and can facilitate sharing of both information and costs with multiple buyers or stakeholders. Each Buyer can use that information to make decisions based on their individual values, beliefs, expectations, and/or standards.
When requested, Sumerra may continue to facilitate future collaborative activities such as training, complete structural integrity analysis, complete electrical analysis (potentially using thermography technology), or other similar work.
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Audit Tool Creation
Audit tools are used by brands, licensees, and third party auditing firms to record, input, and document information gathered during an audit. Audit tools can be field tools, web-based tools, or printable materials.
Any time data has to be gathered and documented there has to be an effective and efficient way to store this data. Proper tools can assure that appropriate information is gathered and stored. Tools can also be used as a guide or a resource for auditors in determining what information to gather, how to gather information, and the standards to apply.
Sumerra designs audit tools for some of the largest and most respected Brands and Organizations in the world. Sumerra has the capability to create new or revise existing audit tools as components of a compliance assessment program. Sumerra creates both off-line and on-line tools for the collection and management of assessment data. Sumerra’s blend of compliance expertise and information technology team assures that tools are both easy to use and meet the specifications of the clients compliance needs.
Sumerra has developed tools in the following areas:
- Environment, Health & Safety
- Social/Labor
- Supply Chain Security (C-TPAT)
- Water Management
- Carbon Management
- Structural Integrity
- Sumerra SaFE – Structural Integrity, Fire Safety, Electrical Safety
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Standards Development
Standards are written guidance or rules for complying with the codes of a Brand or other stakeholder. Standards can be used to communicate the expectations, rules, reporting requirements, goals or other information to your supply chain partners.
As Brands, Factories and Licensees move beyond basic compliance it becomes more important to communicate the expectations and goals. Developing a detailed standard or set of standards sets the bar for Suppliers to achieve the shared goals of the Brand and the supplier. Standards provide the necessary guidance to achieve those goals and allow assessors a baseline for which to judge the performance of its business partners.
Sumerra assists in the development of standards for some of the largest and most respected Brands and Organizations in the world. Sumerra works with our client’s to establish the goals of the program, the expectations, and a reasonable plan to implement the standard. Once developed, Sumerra offers other services to help to implement the standards including database management for reporting and training of stakeholders.
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Supply Chain Data Management
Managing a global supply chain results in large amounts of data. The data must then be analyzed affectively in order to clearly understand the supply chain. Once this is understood, Risks can be identified and plans can be developed to improve the supply chain.
The creation of a data management system can be difficult, time consuming and requires a lot of resources. Not only does the system need to be developed, but there are on-going management concerns with the ownership of an IT system.
Sumerra created and developed SUMO (Sumerra Online) to help organizations collect, analyze, manipulate and use the information to make key decisions. SUMO is designed to be customized for individual companies, providing them the framework to build a cost-effective, personalized, and easy to use online data management system.
Sumerra utilizes Sumo for our own business needs including the operation of our Compliance Management Programs and Consulting initiatives.
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Risk Mapping
Global supply chains include different types and sizes of factories in different countries with different relationships. The result is a complex network of suppliers that is often managed ineffectively resulting in misspent resources because risk is not prioritized.
Many factors can impact the risk posed by parts of the supply chain. As different Suppliers offer different risks, it is key that these risks be measured, prioritized, and managed appropriately. The level of support needed, and therefore the resources required, will be dependent on the associated risk.